Battery pack updating method

Abstract

A battery pack updating method updates firmware stored in internal control circuit memory via an update signal sent from a main device that supplies power. When battery pack memory is updated, an AC adapter is connected to the main device, and power is supplied to the main device from the AC adapter. The updating method transmits a charging and discharging blocking signal from the main device to the battery pack control circuit via a communication line. The charging and discharging blocking signal stops discharge from the battery pack rechargeable battery, and stops charging of the rechargeable battery. With rechargeable battery discharging and charging to and from the main device stopped by the charging and discharging blocking signal, the updating method transmits update data from the main device to the battery pack control circuit to update memory.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a method of updating firmware stored in battery pack memory with that battery pack attached to a main device such as a microcomputer.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]A battery pack that supplies electric power to a device such as a laptop microcomputer is provided with memory to store firmware that controls rechargeable battery charging and discharging. By controlling rechargeable battery charging and discharging with firmware stored in memory, battery pack safety can be improved and rechargeable battery degradation can be reduced. Battery pack firmware is loaded into memory in a process step at the factory. However, the factory loaded firmware is not always the ideal code. If the firmware is less than ideal, detrimental effects such as reduced battery safety or reduced battery life can result. To prevent these types of detrimental effects, apparatus and methods for updating ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Since this method can perform an update when remaining battery capacity is greater than or equal to a threshold value, it can prevent detrimental effects due to power-down during the update. However, it has the drawback that stable update cannot be performed if remaining battery capacity is below the threshold voltage.

[0024]In this updating method, the lithium ion battery can be safely charged and discharged under ideal conditions by operating the control circuit with new revised firmware.

Problems solved by technology

However, it has the drawback that it cannot always stably perform firmware update.

This method also has the drawback that it cannot always stably update the battery pack firmware.

System destruction can be caused by incomplete data writing due to an unexpected power-down associated with battery consumption during communication via Bluetooth wireless technology.

However, it has the drawback that stable update cannot be performed if remaining battery capacity is below the threshold voltage.

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